define: fatty

"So, I'm really curious, what's with the name, Fatty?"

What a good question! We've just realized we haven't formally addressed this little nickname in the last ten months of our adoption journey. So without further ado...

First, you should know that I am obsessed with nicknames. There aren't many people in my inner circle that I don't have a nickname for. I just go there. Right away. So, if you become my friend or family, get ready; there's a nickname in your future. (Josh and I have great nicknames for one another and they are uniquely ours, which makes them super special).

Nicknames are my favorite because they are affectionate terms of endearment. When I call my sister or friend by her nickname, what I'm really saying is, "I know you and I love you". In my mind, nicknames are like a verbal hug! Sometimes nicknames are based on an inside joke or a good story, or a fun variation of your real name. Sometimes they hint at physical appearance, a meaningful memory or family of origin. I know that some people have been given nicknames they hate or nicknames that are laced with hints of sarcasm or slight digs. Rest assured this is not and will not ever be the case in the Mann Fam. 

When it comes to Fatty there isn't a deep story or a prophetic bent. Sorry to disappoint you! When Josh and I were first married, we used to refer to our future kid as, "Shooter", but somewhere along the way, that faded. When talking about our Ethiopian baby, we knew we were going to keep the gender open, so we had to call the little guy or girl something besides, "our Ethiopian baby". Fatty was gender neutral and being chubby is one of the most endearing qualities about babies. Plus, in all honesty, we're prepared for the reality that Fatty may be the exact opposite of chubby when we are first matched with him/ her...so maybe it is a prophetic nickname. :-) 

As we've been waiting to bring Fatty home, this name has turned in to something that allows us, our families, our friends, students we serve and others who love us, to feel connected with our child. When our friends ask, "How is the wait for Fatty going?" or "Have you bought Fatty any onesies yet?", we feel understood, affirmed; like our friends and family are standing with us. When you call our Ethiopian baby, Fatty, we feel like you are cheering us on, walking alongside us and believing with us that this is God's gracious plan for our family. We love it when you call our baby, Fatty (sheesh, I'm one mushy momma-to-be).

We are really excited to finally announce Fatty's real name to you just as soon as we pass court (about 2-3 months after we get our referral). At that point, we will be too excited about his real name to call him anything else. Plus, in about 13 seconds I'm sure a new nickname or two will emerge, so stay tuned.

In conclusion, allow me to introduce you to my "little" brother, Nathan, whom I've called Kush all his life. I mean, does this guy look like a "Kush" to you? Of course not. He looks more like a "Stud" or a "Mucho Suave". Kush's nickname has been around since the early nineties and none of us can remember where or why it originated. When Kush became a teenager I wondered aloud to Josh, "How much longer do you think Kush will allow me to call him that, especially in public?". Josh responded by saying it's not so much the name in and of itself, but how we say it and what we mean by it. If we say it like a little pet name that makes him feel young and small, then he would have outgrown it long ago. But said with all of the love and respect and admiration it's meant to communicate, it's a name that will last a lifetime.

So it's Fatty for now!

Tell me, are you a nickname person? Why or why not? What is your nickname and who calls you by it? Do you have a nickname for someone or does someone have one for you that wouldn't make sense to a casual passerby if they heard it without the back story? I'm dying to know! Fill me in!